Basically a search for an activity that is neither too hard to be intimidating, nor too easy to be boring that captures your attention until you are going to pee your pants. :)

My problem is that I am always trying to do too much. (Blogs, guitar, exercise, business, language learning, book, etc.) I really need to have one single focus that I do every day no matter what. The trouble is how do I choose?

During my first year of grad school I couldn’t afford cable so went with out. I was also really worried about grades, etc. Well, I got a 3.84 GPA and scored in the 94th percentile of my national boards. No TV didn’t hurt.

Of course when I got out of school I got cable as I think had nothing to pursue. When I became more conscious I again got rid of cable, about two years ago. I’ve never looked back.

Further, I began to limit time on the net. I realized that the net had become my new TV. So now, I tend to spend some time each week reading some blogs I like (“Read things that remind you of who you are” David Deida) but other than that its mostly factual things, Email, etc. and devote the rest of my time to “that which enthralls me”

So Ya, Good stuff.

PS Hemingway used to write 500 words a day no matter how he felt. Good stuff.

I have recently made a conscious decision to quit, among other things, multitasking. I now get more done, I get more enjoyment out of getting those things done and I seem to have more time to do them in.

I first noticed this when I stopped for lunch. I didn’t listen to the radio, I didnt read the news or surf the web I just sat at the dining table and ate my PB & J sandwich (this was before my decision to become a raw food vegan).

It was the tastiest PB&J sandwich ever. It was the longest lunch (half) hour ever and it was the most fulfilling break in a working day ever.

Being present for that lunch allowed me to appreciate the food like never before, to take the time to actually taste it rather than go through the motions. Time seemed to slow down during my break. And my break was an actual proper break from work, not just a work-from-somewhere-else-while-I-eat period.

Being present means I now only have to do things once so I save time, it also means I’m more prepared and I’m not surrounded by half finished jobs the way I was when I multitasked 24×7.

It’s not always easy and sometimes I catch myself trying to do two things at once but the rewards I get as soon as I unitask are enough to keep me on the straight and narrow for a while.

An inspiring post, as always. Nice work.

I know exactly what you mean. I haven’t had a TV since 2005. I do miss it sometimes, because I loved to watch some BBC series and here in the Netherlands we have some really good documentaries, but nowadays I use the internet to stay up to date on world issues (take for example MetropolisTV http://www.metropolistv.nl/?lang=en ).

Thank you so much for sharing this!

I have been following your website and some others (The Art of Non-Comformity, Zenhabits, Getinthehotspot, The 4hourworkweek, Study Hack and http://www.flylady.net) for a couple of weeks now and think that you guys are very inspiring! I hope that many more people will be inspired to take a leap and start to live the life they want.
I have just started with my annual review (like mentioned on The AONC) and have actually bought a Neti Pot like you used, and it actually helped! No more sinusitis for me :)

Thanks again and keep up the good writing!